Crystal River current. [volume] (Crystal, Colo.) 1886-18??, 1887-07-16
THE GLARS sAncruRY.
Sketch Of the Royal Palace at Cat
china.

china.
st. Petersburg correspondent of The
Daily Newi gives a description Of the czar's
retreat at Gatchina Hc says the palace can
not be compared with such castles as Versail-
les, Sans-Souci. or Schonbrunn. 1t has
nothing OF the artistic establishment of the
one, the historical memories Of the other, or
the landscape beauty and comfort Of the
third. Situated in the middle of wide and
desert plain, it has no pretty surroundings,
and built without luxury its exterior does not
make an imposing impression. The reason
that. In spite of this, 1t has been chosen as q
residence by the car since his accession to
the throne is no doubt that 1t lies nearest to
the capital, and Is SO isolated and capable Of
isolation, that with the application of all the
means in which Russia is richer than most
countries, the approach OF unwished-for In
dividuals can be prevented. After referring
to the various means adopted for the isolation
and protection of the palace the correspond
cnt proceeds:
Though the superintendent is so strict,
1t Is said that the Inhabitants of the palace
are not and must not be aware of 1t. Their
pleasures and comforts are not impaired by It;
and all the amuscments that could be agree
able to the emperor and his family-drives,
hunts, riding and rowing, evening parties,
Theatrical representations, etc.-can be par
taken Of Adjoining the we'll tended park is
an extensive wood--like the park surrounded
by wall and guarded. In the park itself
are two lake-like basins of water; the palace
contains splendid salons, and two colonnades
which afford agreeable promenades in bad
weather; all this aids in preventing
the inhabitants from feeling anything
of the anxious and never-tiring su-
pervision held over them, and
the want Of more charming surroundings.
Sometimes the emperor and the empress leave
the castle and its region, and make excursions
to the nearest country palaces or to st. Peters,
burg, on which occasions all large escorts are
avoided The emperor refuses to drive In the
company Of police, but the authorities still
are zealous in taking all necessary measures
to avoid accidents. Sometimes the royal
family inhabit Peterhof but always return to
Gatchina. Peterhof, is more magnificent,
Oranienbaum prettier, but CATCHING is con-
sdered safer and quictcr. For many years
before the accession of Alexander III. the
palace had been unused; he eau sed It to be re-
stored, and comfortably furnished. 1t has
been seldom spoken of, and scarcely more was
known of it than the imperial hounds were
kept there. Still CATCHING has Its history.
Peter the Great made gift of it to his favor
lite sister, Natalie; Catherine II. gave 1t to her
favoritc, Orloff, who furnished it at great ex
pense. and built additional cdifces, by which
after the plans of the Italian architect Rinaldi,
1t received quite different form. After
Orloffs death the empress rebought it of his
family, and gave it to the Archduke Paul,
who inhabited it for some length Of time The
palace forms long square, at each corner Of
which is stately tower. The dwellin G. rooms
are in three stories. The colonnades run
along the sides, and the pillars are Of Finland
marble. The rooms are not intellectually
beautiful, but are adorned with valuable
pictures and sculpture from the imperial her.
mitage in st. Petersburg, from the Anitchkoff
palace, and from the Winter palace. The
views are limited by the park and wood,
which, however, have been beautifully laid
out by celebrated st. Petersburg landscape
gardner,